Liver and Gallbladder Flashcards
What plasma proteins does the liver synthesize?
- albumins
- lipoproteins - VLDLs
- glycoproteins
- prothrombin, fibrinogen
- non-immune alpha and beta globulin
What vitamins does the liver store and convert?
A, D, K
also iron
What are three metabolic pathways that the liver participates in ?
- glycogen storage
- cholesterol metabolism
- urea synthesis
What is the exocrine function of the liver?
secretion of bile
What is the endocrine function of the liver?
modifies the action of hormones
- vitamin D
- thyroxine conversion
- GHRF - growth hormone releasing factor
What is the dual blood supply of the liver?
hepatic portal vein (75%)
- rich in nutrients, toxins, byproducts
- depleted of O2
hepatic artery (25%) -Oxygenated blood which mixes with the venous
What forms a portal triad?
portal vein
hepatic artery
interlobular bile duct
Is the portal triad enclosed in glisson’s capsule?
yuppp
Describe the flow of blood starting with the portal veins
- -> hepatic sinusoids
- -> central veins
- -> sublobular veins
- -> hepatic veins
- -> IVC
What do the spaces of Disse lie between?
sinusoidal endothelium and the hepatocytes
How would you visual the classic liver lobule in humans?
connect the portal canals around the central vein
-central vein is in the center
What does the portal lobule emphasize? How is it drawn?
exocrine function of the liver
-portal canal is at the center - bile secretion
- connect lines btwn three closest central veins
What does the liver acinus provide insight on?
blood perfusion
What are the differences in the perfusion of zone 1 vs zone 3
zone 1: perilobular
- most O2
- dies last and regenerates first
zone 3: centrolobular
- least O2
- shows ischemic necrosis first
- contains glyoclysis enzymes, FA synthesis enzymes
What is special about the hepatic sinusoids?
discontinuous, fenestrated
What are kupfer cells?
derived from monocytes
- mononuclear phagocytotic system
- destroy aged RBCs, digest Hb, destroy bacteria
15% of liver population
What is the function of the perisinusoidal space or space of disse?
site of exchange of materials btwn blood and liver cells
What are Ito cells?
primary storage site for hepatic Vitamin A
What happens to Ito cells during cirrhosis?
lose ability to store vit A, transform into myofibroblasts and synthesize collagen
results in liver fibrosis
What cell makes up 80% of the liver population?
hepatocytes
Describe the nuclei of a hepatocyte?
nuclei are large, spherical, centrally located
- binucleate cells and polyploid nuclei develop with age
- adult liver has mostly tetraploid cells
What is the life span of a hepatocyte?
5 months
What type of cell in the liver can be replaced by regeneration after injury?
hepatocytes
Describe the organelles in the golgi besides the nucleus
golgi - can contain as many as 50 units
RER, SER - highly developed
peroxisomes and lysosomes are numerous
